| Before in vitro fertilization was made available to the | | | | released by the pituitary gland to start the |
| public, many couples suffering from fertility problems | | | | maturation of a follicle, which houses an egg. The |
| had no chance of bearing their own children. | | | | 3-day FSH test is a blood test that indicates how |
| However, even assisted reproductive technology has | | | | many eggs you have left. High levels of FSH (greater |
| its limitations - all the medical advances in the world | | | | than 10 mIU/ml) mean that the pituitary gland is |
| cannot increase your IVF chances of success if your | | | | working twice as hard to stimulate the ovaries and |
| egg is unfit for fertilization or if you have an | | | | help them produce an egg out of the dwindling |
| insufficient number of eggs to begin with. In the | | | | supply. When the ovaries run out of follicles, FSH |
| instance where your eggs are incapable of becoming | | | | levels reach their peak and you stop having your |
| embryos, IVF egg donation can help you finally | | | | period. Women in menopause will have constantly |
| achieve your dream of motherhood. Technically, | | | | elevated FSH levels (40 mIU/ml). |
| anyone can choose to use donor eggs, but women | | | | FSH levels are measured on the third day of the |
| who have the following conditions are more likely to | | | | menstrual cycle because this provides the best |
| achieve pregnancy success from this approach. | | | | baseline indicator. FSH levels actually vary from cycle |
| Premature ovarian failure and IVF Chance of Success | | | | to cycle; it's not uncommon to have an FSH score of |
| Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a condition where | | | | 14 in one cycle and an 8 in another cycle. However, |
| the ovaries fail to produce eggs many years before | | | | the highest FSH level obtained is still the best |
| menopause sets in. Every woman is born with a | | | | indicator of how likely a woman is to get pregnant |
| limited number of eggs - just enough so that you can | | | | through IVF. |
| ovulate once every month from adolescence until | | | | If you are younger than 35 with high FSH levels, you |
| you reach your fifties. By this time, you would have | | | | still have a good chance of getting pregnant even if |
| already used your supply of eggs. This is when | | | | your ovarian reserves are low. At this age, you'll still |
| menopause occurs. However, women who have POF | | | | have high quality eggs, which will make up for the |
| have an insufficient number of eggs and lose their | | | | quantity problem. But if you are older than 35 with |
| ovarian functions at a young age. POF typically | | | | elevated FSH levels, you might need the help of an |
| happens to women younger than 40 and can even | | | | egg donor to achieve pregnancy success with IVF. |
| happen as early as the teenage years. There are | | | | No response to ovarian stimulation |
| many possible causes of POF and treatments to | | | | The number of retrieved eggs and viable embryos |
| correct any related hormonal imbalance, but there is | | | | correlates to your chance of pregnancy success. This |
| no way to restore the natural fertility of a woman | | | | is why IVF cycles make use of fertility drugs to |
| with POF. Fortunately, women with POF still have | | | | stimulate the growth of multiple follicles. A good |
| normally functioning uteruses, and they can sustain a | | | | response to ovarian stimulation would mean the |
| healthy pregnancy if they take hormone replacement | | | | maturation of 15-30 follicles, but women with |
| therapy and use donor eggs with IVF. | | | | extremely poor or no response would only have 7 or |
| High FSH levels | | | | less mature follicles. The cycle is usually cancelled at |
| During your initial fertility workup, you have probably | | | | this point; however, you can continue and choose to |
| heard of or experienced the 3-day FSH test. FSH | | | | attempt pregnancy if you use donated eggs. |
| stands for "follicle stimulating hormone", a hormone | | | | |